History

It's child's play.

History

Compeer was founded in 1973 in Rochester, N.Y., with just 12 volunteers at its start-up. Today, on average, 4,000 volunteers in Compeer locations around the world serve people with mental illness or emotional challenges.

The National Institute of Mental Health chose Compeer as a model program in 1982 and funded the development of similar programs throughout the nation. Today, Compeer is a model mental health organization with 50 locations in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Routinely recognized as a national model, the agency has received the Presidential Recognition award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the inaugural Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service award, the Presidential Volunteer Action Award, four Points of Light awards and recognition from the American Psychiatric Association.

Key Milestones

1973

Mental Health Association in Rochester, N.Y. establishes the Adopt-A-Patient program to enable formerly institutionalized patients to live successfully in the community.

1976

Bernice Skirboll is hired as Executive Director and develops Adopt-A-Patient into a community-based mental health support program.

1977

The name changes to Compeer to better describe the program.

1980

Compeer is chosen as a model program for the state of New York.

1982

The National Institute of Mental Health selects Compeer as a national model and provides funding to encourage replication of the model throughout the nation.

1982

Compeer receives the Presidential Recognition Award from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

1982

Compeer is featured on Good Morning America.

1983

The organization incorporates as Compeer, Inc.

1983

The first National Conference, funded by the NIMH grant, is held and results in the startup of eighteen affiliate programs.

1983

Compeer receives the Certification of Significant Achievement Award from the American Psychiatric Association.

1984

Compeer receives the first New York State Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award.

Bernice Skirboll presents at the first Conference on Mental Health held at the White House in Washington, D.C.

2001

Boston University research study begins on the efficacy of adult Compeer relationships.

2001

Compeer Regional Representatives developed a list of “Best Practices” to serve as program standards and benchmarks for future program development. Affiliate workshops were conducted around Best Practices at the 2002 Compeer International Conference in Pittsburgh.

2001

Bernice Skirboll and the international impact of Compeer are featured in the Rochester Review, a publication of the University of Rochester.

2002

Compeer receives the Eli Lilly Reintegration Award for social integration.

2003

Bernice Skirboll presents the Compeer Program at the World Federation on Mental Health Conference in Melbourne, Australia.

2004

Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents services begins through the Department of Health and Human Services, Family and Youth Services Bureau grant.

2005

An American Psychological Association task force highlights the Compeer Model as a best practices model for recovery in its publication, “Training and Best Practices for Recovery and Improved Outcomes for People with Serious Mental Illness.”

2005

Australia becomes the first country outside the U.S. to host the International Compeer Conference.

2006

Compeer: Recovery Through the Healing Power of Friends by Bernice Skirboll is published by the University of Rochester Press.

2007

Compeer Sydney receives the National Australia Bank Volunteer Award, a statewide recognition, for best practice in volunteer.

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We’re very proud to have been awarded a $1.8M federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Twelve of our affiliates, in 5 states, are working hard on implementing this initiative to better serve at-risk youth within our communities. Johanna and Cynthia headed to Washington, D.C. this week for training on federal grant administration. … See MoreSee Less